3.) Aaron Gordon
Okay, this one is sure to have fans scratching their heads and wondering why the team would possibly entertain the idea of trading Gordon, but hear me out. If the Nuggets get off to a slow start this season and it becomes clear they need to make some changes, they have to be proactive.
They cannot afford another KCP situation where a good starter leaves in the offseason for nothing. But that could end up being the case with Gordon if an extension doesn’t get worked out. He has a player option for next season, but he’s almost certain to opt out and seek a bigger, long-term deal.
If the Nuggets aren’t willing to pay that next deal and would rather invest the money elsewhere, they should get ahead of the issue and trade Gordon while he still has value. He’ll be making just $22.8 million this season, an extremely reasonable salary for a player of his caliber.
Contending teams would be lining up to bid for his services and the Nuggets should be able to get back a serious haul if they play their cards right. Getting rid of Gordon would be a crushing blow and a very tough pill to swallow, but losing him a few months later for nothing would be even worse.
This trade could give the team a ton of flexibility and a real chance to balance the roster and bring in some fresh talent around Jokic and Jamal Murray. Hopefully, the team plays well out of the gates and it doesn’t come to this, but after seeing important players walk in free agency back to back years, it’s time to start thinking of the future a bit more.